An anti-corruption group, Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) has demanded transparency from Nigerian governors in the utilisation of security votes.
Speaking in Abuja, the Director of Compliance Light Shedrack urged the anti-graft agencies in the country to make state governors account for the security votes allocated to them while in office.
The NACAT director urged the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to begin probing the spending of security votes allocated to Governors.
He said that most of the Governors perpetrated heinous corrupt practices and defrauded their states in the name of security votes.
Shedrack explained that the security votes did not belong to the Governors but for the provision of security for the people, hence it must be transparently and judiciously spent.
He insisted that leaders were supposed to be accountable to the people who elected them into office, adding that every kobo received by them must be accounted for.
“One kobo in the name of security votes does not belong to any governor. Yes, they are the chief security officer of that state.
“But there is a need for accountability of that money; that money does not belong to them. It is not their money. It is the state fund.
“No security vote belongs to the Governor. It belongs to the state that has it. They should account for how they spend it. It is not their money,” he reaffirmed.
Also speaking, Ojefia Justice of NACAT stated that security agencies saddled with the responsibility of carrying out investigations and prosecutions should be alive to their responsibilities irrespective of the nature of the matter, so long it is a financial crime.
According to him, section 308 of the constitution which guarantees Governors’ immunity does not stop them from accounting for taxpayers’ funds.
He therefore urged the appropriate security agencies to invite those accused and those making allegations to substantiate and defend them.
NACAT also disclosed that the Group had written a petition to the EFCC, accusing the former Governor of Akwa Ibom of misappropriation of the state fund, especially the security votes.
The Group informed the commission that over N4.5 billion was withdrawn and claimed to have been spent on security Agencies within six months.
NACA, therefore, urged the EFCC to investigate the matter.
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